I’ve been keeping this a secret for a while, and now I’m so excited I get to finally share with you all that I’m the newest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2019 Rookie!!! Ahhh thank you @SI_Swimsuit@mj_day for the opportunity to shoot for this iconic issue!!! ♥????? pic.twitter.com/oMxQLqrE0T

“I’ve been keeping this a secret for a while, and now I’m so excited I get to finally share with you all that I’m the newest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2019 Rookie!!! Ahhh thank you @SI_Swimsuit@mj_day for the opportunity to shoot for this iconic issue!!” Merritt said.

Merritt auditioned for the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated last October, a month before she made history as the first Filipino to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show runway.

During her casting call posted by Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in October, Merritt said she wanted to pose for the magazine because she loves how confident the models are.

"I really want to be a Sports Illustrated model because I love how confident the models are and I want to show everyone who is looking at these pictures and reading the magazine that they can also be confident in their own skin,” Merritt said.

When US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited last week, he made assurances his country would come to the Philippines’ defense in the event of an armed attack on our vessels and aircraft in the South China Sea.

President Duterte and visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad emphasized yesterday the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in maintaining peace and progress in the region, which is grappling with territorial disputes as well as China’s muscle-flexing.